Lakh Dana – Natural Lac Resin

Lakh Dana is a traditional natural lac material consisting of resinous lac granules obtained from the activity of lac insects on host plants.

The name Laccifer lacca is an older scientific name associated with the Indian lac insect; Kerria lacca is the currently used scientific name. ICAR sources identify Kerria lacca as the lac insect used for lac production in India.

Unlike most herbal raw materials, Lakh Dana is not a plant, root, seed or fruit. It is a natural resin of insect origin, produced by lac insects while colonizing suitable host plants.

Lac is an important Indian natural resin and is processed into products such as seed lac, shellac, lac dye and lac wax. ICAR's natural-resins research programme specifically covers lac production, processing and value addition.

For accurate commercial product information, it is therefore better to describe Lakh Dana as a natural lac resin / natural resin raw material, rather than as a herbal plant product.

Product Information

• Product Name: Lakh Dana
• Traditional Name: Lakh Dana / Laksha Dana
• Scientific Name Traditionally Used: Laccifer lacca
• Current Scientific Name: Kerria lacca
• Source: Lac insect resin
• Material: Natural Lac Resin
• Product Form: Whole Granules / Resinous Pieces
• Product Type: Natural Resin Raw Material
• Origin: Traditionally produced in India from lac insect culture

ICAR recognizes Kerria lacca as the lac insect used for lac production and maintains research programmes covering lac cultivation and processing.

What Is Lakh Dana?

Lakh Dana refers to lac resin in a granular or small-piece form.

The lac insect lives on suitable host plants and secretes resin around its body and onto the host branches. After harvesting and processing, the resinous material can be separated and processed into different grades and forms.

Lakh Dana may therefore be described as:

• Natural lac resin
• Lac resin granules
• Whole lac resin pieces
• Traditional Laksha material
• Natural resin raw material
• Lac-based botanical-trade material

However, it should not be described as plant resin, because the resin is produced by the lac insect.

Common Names

Lakh Dana may also be searched as:

• Lakh Dana
• Lak Dana
• Laksha Dana
• Laksha
• Laksha Resin
• Laksha Raw Resin
• Lak Resin
• Lac Resin
• Natural Lac Resin
• Lac Granules
• Lac Resin Granules
• Lac Resin Pieces
• Whole Lac Resin
• Lac Raw Material
• Natural Lac Raw Material
• Lakh Resin
• Lakh Raw Resin
• Lakh Dana Resin
• Lakshya Resin
• Laccifer lacca Resin
• Kerria lacca Resin
• Kerria lacca Lac
• Lac Insect Resin
• Natural Lac Product
• Traditional Lac Resin
• Natural Resin Granules

Scientific Name

Traditional / Older Name

Laccifer lacca

Current Name

Kerria lacca

The current scientific literature and Indian agricultural sources use Kerria lacca for the lac insect. ICAR's lac research material also identifies Kerria lacca as the species used for lac production.

For SEO, it is useful to retain Laccifer lacca because customers may still search using this older name, while using Kerria lacca for current scientific identification.

Is Lakh Dana a Herbal Product?

No, not technically.

Lakh Dana is a natural resinous material produced by lac insects.

It may occur in traditional Ayurvedic or herbal-trade contexts, but scientifically it should not be represented as:

• A herb
• A plant root
• A plant seed
• A botanical powder
• A plant-derived resin

A more accurate description is:

Natural Lac Resin Raw Material

This distinction is especially useful for accurate product categorization and compliance.

Source of Lakh Dana

Lakh Dana originates from lac insect culture.

The lac insect colonizes suitable host plants and produces resin around the colonies. ICAR reports lac production technologies using host plants including Flemingia semialata, ber and Calliandra calothyrsus.

The host plant provides the habitat and nourishment, while the resin itself is produced by the insect.

Natural Appearance

Lakh Dana generally consists of:

• Small resinous granules
• Irregular pieces
• Hard resin particles
• Brownish or reddish-brown material

Depending on processing and grade, the material may appear:

• Dark red-brown
• Reddish
• Brown
• Amber-brown
• Deep maroon-brown

Natural variation is expected.

Natural Texture

Lakh Dana is generally:

• Hard
• Brittle
• Resinous
• Granular
• Irregular

The material may become softer when exposed to heat.

Natural Aroma

Natural lac resin can have a characteristic:

• Resinous
• Woody
• Mild
• Earthy

aroma.

The aroma may vary according to processing, impurities, storage and grade.

Natural Colour

Lakh Dana may naturally range from:

Amber → Reddish Brown → Brown → Dark Red-Brown

Colour depends on:

• Lac strain
• Host plant
• Harvest
• Processing
• Purification
• Storage

Why Is It Called Lakh Dana?

Lakh/Laksha is the traditional term associated with lac.

Dana means a small grain, particle or granule.

Therefore, Lakh Dana can be understood commercially as a granular form of lac resin.

Lakh Dana vs Shellac

These products should not automatically be treated as identical.

Lakh Dana

Raw or partially processed granular lac resin material.

Shellac

A more refined and processed form of lac resin.

ICAR recognizes lac processing and technologies including bleached lac and dewaxed/decolourised lac, illustrating that lac can undergo different levels of processing and value addition.

Lakh Dana vs Seed Lac

The terminology used in lac trading can vary depending on processing stage and regional practice.

Seed lac is a processed lac material obtained after washing, drying and crushing sticklac.

Therefore, the exact commercial specification should be checked before using “Seed Lac” as a synonym for Lakh Dana.

For your listing, if your actual product is sold as Lakh Dana, keep that as the primary product name.

Lakh Dana vs Lac Dye

These are different lac-derived products.

Lac Resin

The resinous fraction of lac.

Lac Dye

The colour-producing component obtained from lac material.

ICAR lists Lac Dye separately among lac processing technologies.

Therefore, Lakh Dana should not automatically be described as lac dye.

Natural Resin Characteristics

Lac is a naturally occurring resinous material with a complex composition containing resin components along with other naturally associated fractions.

Lac processing can separate or modify different components, producing:

• Lac resin
• Lac dye
• Lac wax
• Shellac
• Dewaxed lac
• Decolourised lac

ICAR documentation describes lac wax as a by-product of the lac industry and notes value-added products derived from lac resin.

Traditional Context

Lac has a long history of use in India and is associated with traditional material culture and Ayurvedic raw-material terminology.

For a commercial product page, suitable descriptions include:

• Traditional Laksha material.
• Natural lac resin.
• Traditional Indian natural resin.
• Natural resin raw material.
• Whole lac resin granules.
• Traditionally traded lac material.

Avoid unsupported claims such as:

• Treats bleeding
• Cures wounds
• Treats fractures
• Strengthens bones
• Treats reproductive disorders
• Treats urinary problems
• Cures inflammation
• Treats piles
• Heals internal injuries

These are therapeutic claims and should not be placed on a general commercial product page without appropriate regulatory and evidentiary support.

General Product Features

• Natural lac resin material.
• Traditionally known as Lakh/Laksha.
• Granular resinous form.
• Associated with Kerria lacca.
• Older scientific name: Laccifer lacca.
• Naturally reddish-brown to brown appearance.
• Hard and brittle resinous texture.
• Traditional Indian natural resin.
• Suitable as a natural resin raw material.

General Uses

Depending on the exact grade and product classification, lac resin may be used as:

• Natural resin raw material
• Traditional formulation ingredient where permitted
• Resin-processing raw material
• Shellac production
• Lac-based product manufacturing
• Traditional craft applications
• Industrial natural-resin applications

ICAR documents lac as an important natural resin and supports research into its processing and value addition.

How to Use

Because Lakh Dana is a raw natural resin material, there is no universal medicinal or household dosage.

How to Use: Use according to the manufacturer's specified application or as advised by a qualified professional for traditional formulation use.

For industrial or craft applications, follow the relevant technical processing instructions.

Dosage

Not applicable as a general food or medicinal dosage.

If your product is specifically marketed for traditional Ayurvedic formulation:

Dosage: Use only according to the approved formulation and under qualified Ayurvedic professional guidance.

Homemade Remedy

Lakh Dana should not be promoted as a DIY medicinal remedy.

Recommended wording

Traditional Use: Use only according to an established traditional formulation and appropriate professional guidance.

For non-medicinal resin applications, follow the technical instructions relevant to the intended application.

General Processing of Lac

A broad lac-processing chain may involve:

1. Lac Insect Culture

Lac insects are raised on suitable host plants.

2. Resin Deposition

The insects produce resinous material on the host branches.

3. Harvesting

Lac-encrusted branches are collected.

4. Separation

The lac material is separated from the host branches.

5. Cleaning

Foreign plant material and unwanted matter are removed.

6. Washing / Processing

Depending on the intended grade, lac can undergo washing and further processing.

7. Drying

The material is dried.

8. Grading

The resin is sorted according to quality and intended application.

9. Further Processing

It may subsequently be converted into products such as seed lac or shellac.

General Flow:

Lac Insect Culture → Resin Deposition → Harvesting → Separation → Cleaning → Processing → Drying → Grading → Packaging

ICAR maintains dedicated research and technology programmes covering lac production, processing and value addition.

Quality Characteristics

Good-quality Lakh Dana should generally demonstrate:

• Correct lac-resin identity
• Appropriate resinous appearance
• Characteristic colour
• Hard granular texture
• Low foreign matter
• Proper dryness
• No mould
• No abnormal contamination
• Suitable packaging
• Batch traceability

Quality Testing

Depending on intended use, testing may include:

Physical Testing

• Appearance
• Colour
• Odour
• Moisture
• Foreign matter
• Particle/granule size

Chemical Testing

• Resin content
• Wax content
• Colour characteristics
• Acid value
• Other applicable resin-quality parameters

Safety Testing

Where applicable:

• Heavy metals
• Pesticide residues
• Microbial limits
• Other contaminants

Exact specifications should follow the relevant product grade and applicable standards.

Natural Batch Variation

Lakh Dana can naturally vary in:

• Colour
• Granule size
• Hardness
• Resin content
• Aroma
• Surface texture

Variation can result from:

• Lac insect strain
• Host plant
• Geographic region
• Harvest season
• Processing
• Purification
• Storage

Natural resin products are not expected to have identical appearance in every batch.

Storage

Store Lakh Dana:

• In a cool, dry place.
• Away from moisture.
• Away from direct sunlight.
• Away from excessive heat.
• In a tightly sealed container.
• Away from strong odours.
• Away from children.

Avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures because natural resin can soften.

Packaging

Suitable packaging should protect the resin from:

• Moisture
• Dust
• Contamination
• Excessive heat
• Direct sunlight
• Foreign material

Suitable formats may include:

• Moisture-resistant pouches
• Laminated pouches
• HDPE containers
• Airtight containers
• Suitable resin-grade packaging

Important Safety Information

• This is a natural resin, not a conventional herbal powder.
• Verify the exact product grade before use.
• Follow the manufacturer's intended-use instructions.
• Do not self-prescribe raw lac resin medicinally.
• Traditional medicinal use should be supervised by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.
• Do not use contaminated or mouldy material.
• Keep away from excessive heat.
• Keep away from children.
• Do not use as food unless the product is specifically manufactured, classified and labelled for food use.
• Check the product specification and regulatory classification before medicinal, cosmetic or food applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lakh Dana?

Lakh Dana is a granular form of natural lac resin traditionally associated with the lac insect.

What is the scientific name of Lakh?

The lac insect is currently known as Kerria lacca. Laccifer lacca is an older scientific name commonly encountered in traditional and commercial references.

Is Lakh Dana a plant?

No. Lakh Dana is not a plant. It is a natural resin produced by lac insects.

Is Lakh Dana an herbal product?

Technically, it is more accurately described as a natural resin raw material rather than a herb.

What is Lakh Dana made from?

It consists primarily of resinous lac material associated with lac insect colonies.

Which insect produces lac?

The Indian lac insect is Kerria lacca. ICAR specifically identifies Kerria lacca in its lac production research.

What colour is Lakh Dana?

It can naturally range from reddish-brown and amber-brown to dark brown.

What is the texture of Lakh Dana?

It is generally hard, brittle and resinous.

Does Lakh Dana melt?

Natural lac resin softens when heated and can be processed into different lac products.

Is Lakh Dana the same as shellac?

No. Shellac is a more processed/refined form of lac resin.

Is Lakh Dana the same as lac dye?

No. Lac resin and lac dye are different fractions/products obtained from lac material.

Is Lakh Dana the same as seed lac?

Not necessarily. The terminology depends on the specific processing stage and commercial specification.

Is Lakh Dana used in Ayurveda?

Lac/Laksha has a history of traditional Ayurvedic use, but the exact intended use depends on the formulation and applicable product classification.

What is the dosage of Lakh Dana?

There is no universal dosage for raw lac resin. Medicinal use should only follow an approved formulation and qualified professional guidance.

Can Lakh Dana be used as a homemade remedy?

It should not be promoted as an unsupervised homemade medicinal remedy.

How should Lakh Dana be stored?

Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, excessive heat and direct sunlight.

Can Lakh Dana become soft?

Yes. Natural lac resin can soften under elevated temperatures.

Can the colour vary between batches?

Yes. Natural lac can vary according to insect strain, host plant, geography, harvest and processing.

Is Lakh Dana edible?

Do not assume that raw lac resin is food-grade. Only use it for food applications when the specific product is appropriately processed, classified and labelled for that purpose.

Is Lakh Dana natural?

Yes. Lac is a naturally produced resin associated with lac insect culture. ICAR classifies lac among natural resins and gums.

Is this article medical advice?

No. This content is intended for product, botanical, natural-resin, educational and traditional-use information only.

Conclusion

Lakh Dana is a traditional granular form of natural lac resin associated with the lac insect Kerria lacca, formerly widely referenced as Laccifer lacca. It is important to distinguish it from plant-based herbal products because the resin is produced by the insect rather than being a plant part. ICAR recognizes Kerria lacca as the lac insect used in Indian lac production and maintains dedicated research into lac cultivation, processing and value addition.

Quick Product Reference

Product Name: Lakh Dana
Traditional Name: Laksha / Lakh
Current Scientific Name: Kerria lacca
Older Scientific Name: Laccifer lacca
Material: Natural Lac Resin
Source: Lac insect
Product Form: Whole Resin Granules
Product Type: Natural Resin Raw Material
Natural Character: Hard, brittle, resinous, reddish-brown to brown

For SEO and accurate customer identification, use:

Lakh Dana + Laksha + Lac Resin + Natural Lac Resin + Kerria lacca + Laccifer lacca + Lac Resin Granules

Disclaimer

This content is intended for educational, natural-resin, traditional-use and product-information purposes.

It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and should not be considered medical advice.

Lakh Dana is a natural resin material and should not automatically be classified as a herbal plant product.

The exact grade, composition, processing method, intended use, purity, safety requirements and regulatory classification should be verified through the manufacturer's specification, Certificate of Analysis and applicable regulations.